2009 sj.com College Football Poll -- FINAL POLL PG 25!!!!!

[Precious Roy]

Nah, I think OU wins out. (And finally wins a bowl now that it won't be in a BCS game.)

Avatars for a week says OU loses at least once from here out.

Don't take it Xan, OU will lose at least one more game

[slappy4428]

Someone (or two or seven) of you tell Elliotte to send in his ballot?
I have some errands to run for an hour and I would hate for him to miss for the second time...

[slappy4428]

Nov. 2, 2009

Meet Me Halfway: These Teams Deserve Love Too

By SLAPPY4428
All-knowing know-it-all

There has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth over the order of top three teams ranked in the various polls.

And to a degree it’s deserved – Texas, of the Big 12, along with Florida and Alabama of the SEC (Our Motto: An Eye for An Eye, Two Teams in the BC$ is More Than One) have certainly poked their way to the top of the heap.

We’ve also spent some of the time discussing teams not quite at the top, although Duke, Idaho, Texas A&M and Temple receiving votes in midseason must truly be one of the Seven Signs.

 But while the top three teams receive the discussion, the interesting part of the poll is the next six teams. Boise State, Cincinnati, TCU, Iowa, Oregon and LSU have certainly earned a spot at the meal, if not actually the adults table on Thanksgiving.

However, it’s like the Gemini astronauts in 1962: They’re still going into space, but they don’t have the same flair as the Original Seven in outer space and none of the respect.

What happens this week if the Big Three lose? Alabama falling to LSU is certainly possible; Florida’s losing to Vandy might not happen, but why can’t the Gators get bitten at South Carolina or at home against Florida State? UCF might not be the answer, but Texas is entirely capable of doing something stupid.

And by doing that, it puts the onus on the Next Six, unless the voters of the USA Today coaches poll and the voters in the Harris Poll decide they have the backbone of room temperature Jell-O and leave one of the three at the top.

Look at this week. Who plays Louisiana Tech after Boise State? LSU, which makes this Little Ray of Sunshine’s column I read online today as worthless as balls on a statue when he wrote that he dropped Boise in his Harris Poll because their schedule is weakening.

I continue. Why shouldn’t the next six be considered? I have no idea why not. I mean…

-- Boise State is fourth. If the Broncos run the table, they’ll be undefeated, have beaten Idaho, Oregon and at Fresno State, Bowling Green, Tulsa, Hawaii and Louisiana Tech in a six-week stretch across six different time zones. Nick Saban says HIS team is tired?

-- Cincinnati is fifth and has played just one ranked team. But they’ve got a scoring margin of plus-26 against Rutgers, Oregon State, South Florida and Fresno State.

-- TCU is sixth and has the best shot of them all, since people look for ways to discount any success Boise State might have. So discount this: TCU will have won at Clemson and Virginia. And Air Force. And No. 23 BYU. And have to beat Utah. Some ACC schools don’t have it that tough.

-- Iowa is seventh and the Rodney Dangerfield of the Big 10. Everyone talks about Penn State and Ohio State, but Iowa is freakin unbeaten. Doubters have every right to rag on Northern Iowa and Arkansas State – but you don’t hear them complaining about Charleston Southern, North Texas or Florida International.

-- Oregon is eighth and in a bad spot. While the Ducks have a claim if they win out and finish the Pac-10 season unbeaten, the voters are truly frauds if they hike the Ducks ahead of the one team to beat them – Boise State.

-- LSU is in the same boat as Oregon at No. 9. They control their destiny, but can they say they belong in the title game after losing to Florida, which would probably fall behind the Tigers if LSU beats Bama and Florida stumbles along the way. Of course, if LSU beats Florida, the whole world from the stars to the bars will cry out for Round 3 – the war to settle the score.

But they’ll all have a legit argument as long as they all win out -- they just dont have the respect of the media darlings.

SJ.COM COLLEGE FOOTBALL POLL
11/2/2009
RK. TEAM (1st)              PTS   Last
1.   Florida   (19)          876   1
2.   Texas (8 )             856   3
3.   Alabama (8 )          847   2
4.   Boise State            738   4
5.   Cincinnati (1)          731   6
6.   Texas Christian       717   8
7.   Iowa                     710   7
8.   Oregon                  673   10
9.   LSU                      640   9
10.   Georgia Tech        558   11
11.   Penn State           546   13
12.   Utah                   431   15
13.   USC                    421   5
14.   Pitt                     409   16
15.   Houston               398   17
16.   Ohio State            370   18
17.   Miami (Fla.)           366   17
18.   Oklahoma St.         245   11
19.   Arizona                 188   24
20.   Oklahoma              178   22
21.   Notre Dame           169   NR
22.   California              141   NR
23.   Brigham Young       138   NR
24.   Virginia Tech         108   14
25.   South Florida          77   NR

Also receiving votes: Wisconsin 62, West Virginia 29, Texas Tech 21, Auburn 15, Mississippi 12, Clemson 9, Central Michigan 6, Oregon State 3, North Carolina 3, Rutgers 3, Idaho 2, Duke 2, Troy 2, Texas A&M 1, Temple 1.


The sj.com college football poll committee: Slappy4428 (chairman), 2muchcoffeeman, Agate Page, Azom, Bubbler BYH, Della9250, Diabeetus, Dparker85, Elliotte Friedman,  GB-Hack, Hammer Pants, Hank Scorpio, Huggy, Ishouldcoco, Jesus Muscatel, Joe Schmoe, KYsportswriter, Layman, Madhavok, Matt1735, Orville Redenbacher, Oz, Piotr Rasputin, Popedirkbenedict, Precious Roy, Red Smith Clone, Rockbottom, Rumpleforeskin, spnited, Starman, Stormsurge, Sxysptswrtr,Trooper Bari, WS, Xanadu.

[amraeder]

Nice work Slap!

I'll throw this out there:
What makes BYU better than Va. Tech or South Florida?

[2muchcoffeeman]

Nice work Slap!

I'll throw this out there:
What makes BYU better than Va. Tech or South Florida?

Good question. I'm not even sure the Fightin' Missionaries should be on the map at this point, especially since they were off last week and got kicked all over the field by TCU the last time they played.

[slappy4428]

Nice work Slap!

I'll throw this out there:
What makes BYU better than Va. Tech or South Florida?

Courage.
What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage!
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage!
What makes the Sphinx the Seventh Wonder? Courage!
What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage!
What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the ape in ape-ricot? What have they got that Virginia Tech or South Florida ain't got?
Courage....

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Anyone care to own up to Cincy with a nod to No. 1?

Outstanding!

[Precious Roy]

Owned up to it last week, owning up again.
They are at least beating teams well. I can't sit here in good conscience and vote Florida, a bad call from losing to Arkansas; Alabama, a horrible coaching decision away from losing to Tennessee; and Texas, a team that didn't crush the team they should have on the biggest stage they had as the No. 1 team.
Cincy is winning and winning big, now without their top-flight quarterback. They have a good team there, and I expect them to continue to surprise.
Call me crazy all you like, and I expect some fire, but that's my vote.

[amraeder]

Nice work Slap!

I'll throw this out there:
What makes BYU better than Va. Tech or South Florida?

Courage.
What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage!
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage!
What makes the Sphinx the Seventh Wonder? Courage!
What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage!
What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the ape in ape-ricot? What have they got that Virginia Tech or South Florida ain't got?
Courage....

This made my morning. Thank you, sir!

[Precious Roy]

Nah, I think OU wins out. (And finally wins a bowl now that it won't be in a BCS game.)

Avatars for a week says OU loses at least once from here out.

Nebraska 10, Oklahoma 3

Also, I am going to vote TCU as my No. 1 team this week, just putting that out there right now so nobody is surprised when it happens.

[Xanadu]

3 points? 3?! what the?

i'll take chef's avatar, but he has to take usc's logo for a week for today's buckeye/nittany lions game.

3!!!!???!!

[KYSportsWriter]

Updated: Nov. 8
1. Texas (LW: 1)
2. Florida (2)
3. Alabama (3)
4. Boise State (4)
5. Cincinnati (6)
6. TCU (7)
7. Georgia Tech (10)
8. Utah (12)
9. Miami (14)
10. Houston (13)
11. Ohio State (15)
12. Pittsburgh (16)
13. Arizona (17)
14. Southern Cal (18)
15. Virginia Tech (19)
16. BYU (20)
17. Iowa (5)
18. Oklahoma State (22)
19. Oregon ( 8 )
20. LSU (9)
21. South Florida (24)
22. Wisconsin (25)
23. West Virginia (UNR)
24. Penn State (11)
25. Troy (UNR)

[I Should Coco]

KY sportswriter: I know I'm very biased, but, uh, ranking Iowa below Arizona?

I agree with giving Troy some love, though. Really, after the top 8 teams, it's a toss up.

[WS]

Troy has beaten 6 Sun Belt teams and UAB, though the SBC wins have come pretty easily. I wouldn't slide them into any rankings unless they win at Arkansas next week.

[Oz]

1. Alabama
2. Florida
3. Texas
4. Texas Christian
5. Boise State
6. Cincinnati
7. Georgia Tech
8. Houston
9. Utah
10. Louisiana State
11. Pittsburgh
12. Miami, Fla.
13. Oregon -- down 5 spots
14. Southern California
15. Ohio State
16. Iowa -- down 12 spots
17. Arizona
18. Brigham Young
19. Penn State -- down 9 spots
20. Oklahoma State
21. South Florida
22. Wisconsin
23. Virginia Tech
24. Clemson
25. Auburn
Moved in -- No. 23 Virginia Tech, No. 24 Clemson, No. 25 Auburn
Dropped out -- No. 17 Oklahoma, No. 21 Notre Dame, No. 23 California

[KYSportsWriter]

KY sportswriter: I know I'm very biased, but, uh, ranking Iowa below Arizona?

I agree with giving Troy some love, though. Really, after the top 8 teams, it's a toss up.

Crap, I forgot about Iowa's win over Arizona earlier this season.

Here's my revised ballot.

Updated: Nov. 8
1. Texas (LW: 1)
2. Florida (2)
3. Alabama (3)
4. Boise State (4)
5. Cincinnati (6)
6. TCU (7)
7. Georgia Tech (10)
8. Utah (12)
9. Miami (14)
10. Houston (13)
11. Ohio State (15)
12. Pittsburgh (16)
13. Iowa (5)
14. Arizona (17)
15. Southern Cal (18)
16. Virginia Tech (19)
17. BYU (20)
18. Oklahoma State (22)
19. Oregon ( 8 )
20. LSU (9)
21. South Florida (24)
22. Wisconsin (25)
23. West Virginia (UNR)
24. Penn State (11)
25. Troy (UNR)

[KYSportsWriter]

Troy has beaten 6 Sun Belt teams and UAB, though the SBC wins have come pretty easily. I wouldn't slide them into any rankings unless they win at Arkansas next week.

It's not like I put them that high, WS. They're 25th in my ballot, meaning a loss next week likely drops them out.

[Della9250]

1. Florida (0)
2. Alabama (0)
3. Texas (0)
4. Cincinnati (0)
5. Boise State (0)
6. TCU (0)
7. Georgia Tech (+4)
8. Utah (+4)
9. Pittsburgh (+5)
10. LSU (-1)
11. Oregon (-3)
12. Iowa (-5)
13. Houston (0)
14. Oklahoma State (+1)
15. Southern Cal (+1)
16. Miami (Fla.) (+1)
17. Ohio State (+5)
18. Arizona (+2)
19. Penn State (-9)
20. BYU (+1)
21. South Florida (+3)
22. West Virginia (NR)
23. Wisconsin (+2)
24. Rutgers (NR)
25. Oregon State (NR)

Out: Notre Dame, Cal, Oklahoma

[amraeder]

Still be curious to hear what makes people rank BYU above South Florida or Va. Tech. And I really don't give a damn about either South Florida or Va. Tech. Just strikes me as odd.

[Xanadu]

1, Alabama
2, Texas
3, Florida
4, TCU
5, Boise State
6, Cincinnati
7, Pittsburgh
8, Georgia Tech
9, Iowa (the defense only gave up 10 points)
10, Oregon (they did almost rally for the win)
11, USC
12, Ohio State
13, Utah
14, LSU
15, Miami
16, Arizona
17, Oregon State
18, Stanford
19, Houston
20, Penn State
21, South Florida
22, BYU
23, Navy
24, Virginia Tech
25, Temple (Owls have won 7 in a row.)

[amraeder]

Not impressed by Wisky, Xan?

[Xanadu]

I want to be impressed by Wisconsin. 25 was going to either Temple or Wisconsin.

Temple's won 7 straight, but Wisconsin's come on strong since losing aggregate 51-23 to Ohio State and Iowa.

Temple's the new darling, but Wisconsin's on TV every week, so how can you not love the Badgers?

Temple. Wisconsin. Temple. Wisconsin.

I went with 7 in a row. Because it's Temple that has won the 7 in a row. Hasn't happened in my lifetime.

[amraeder]

I want to be impressed by Wisconsin. 25 was going to either Temple or Wisconsin.

Temple's won 7 straight, but Wisconsin's come on strong since losing aggregate 51-23 to Ohio State and Iowa.

Temple's the new darling, but Wisconsin's on TV every week, so how can you not love the Badgers?

Temple. Wisconsin. Temple. Wisconsin.

I went with 7 in a row. Because it's Temple that has won the 7 in a row. Hasn't happened in my lifetime.

Figured it was probably something like that. Seems like from the mid-teens down, everything gets pretty interchangeable (except for my never-ending quest to get Va. Tech and South Florida ranked above BYU. (Which is just something I'm doing more out of a love for seer randomness than anything)).

[Bubbler]

My poll for Nov. 9 ...

1. Texas
2. Alabama
3. Florida
4. TCU
5. Boise State
6. Cincinnati
7. Utah
8. Georgia Tech
9. Pitt
10. Iowa
11. Houston
12. LSU
13. Oklahoma State
14. Miami
15. Oregon
16. BYU
17. USC
18. Ohio State
19. Wisconsin
20. Arizona
21. Virginia Tech
22. South Florida
23. Rutgers
24. Penn State
25. Oregon State

-- I switched TCU and Boise State. The Mountain West is strong this year and they deserve it.

-- Utah might be a bit high, or perhaps not. They only got beat by seven by Oregon and have handled what has been a relatively easy schedule to date about how one might think they should. It will be interesting to see if they can hang against the Horned Frogs.

[AgatePage]

-- Utah might be a bit high

I'm not sure who's more high -- you, or your choice of Utah. Yes, the fourth-quarter pullout over San Jose was a real show of strength. And that thriller at home vs. Air Force? Stuff of champions.